OGDEN, Utah – The Portland State women's soccer team was selected to finish fourth in the Big Sky preseason coaches' poll released by the conference Monday.

The Vikings are coming off a program best 5-2 conference record in 2010 in which they finished second return four of their top-five scorers from last season in Eryn Brown, Melissa Trammell, Kala Renard and Amanda Dutra. They also return a goalkeeper in Lainey Hulsizer that played in the majority of games in 2010 and who played to a 4-4-1 record including two shutouts.

Exceeding the expectations has been the Portland State motto under head coach Laura Schott who has turned the program into one of the conference's elite programs. Portland State was picked to finish fifth in 2008 and 2009, but went on to finish second and first in conference, respectively. The Vikings were then picked third in last year's preseason poll but went on to take second in the conference.

The Vikings are returning seven starters from a year ago and welcome seven newcomers to the squad that look to make an immediate impact.

The Vikings fell in 2010 to the eventual Big Sky tournament champions Sacramento State in the semifinals by a 2-1 margin.

Portland State looks poised once again to make a push at the conference regular season championship as well as the tournament to secure its first bit to the NCAA Tournament.

Preseason Soccer Poll
Team - Points
1. Northern Arizona - 43 (3)
2. Sacramento State - 42 (3)
3. Northern Colorado - 39 (2)
4. Portland State - 34
5. Weber State - 26
6. Montana - 19
7. Idaho State - 14
8. Eastern Washington – 7
(Number of first place votes in parenthesis)